TAWAU: Five men and a woman who deceived foreigners into applying for red identity cards were detained by the police.
District police chief ACP Fadil Hj Marsus said the group was believed to have started the scam since April 15 this year.
He said the modus operandi of the suspects was to deceive their victims by stating that they could help them apply for the red identity cards even though their supporting documents were not complete, and deceiving the victims to pay for the handling of such applications.
Fadil said in early June, at about 3pm, a victim at an office at Hill Top met a 53-year-old suspect who said he could help get the victim a red identity card and deceived the victim into handing over RM150. The victim however lodged a police report after the suspect failed to deliver the document.
The suspect was detained at Kg Sri Menanti on July 24, while another male suspect aged 58 was arrested at Taman Leeka, Mile 2, Sin Onn Road. A female suspect aged 15 was apprehended at Kg Seri Rejek, Tungku Osman Road.
On July 26, at about 7pm, three male suspects aged 49, 52 and 54 were held at the lobby of the Check In Hotel, along Bunga Road.
All of them were locals.
Fadil said 14 files containing copies of applicants’ passports, birth certificates and application forms, including special approval documents, registration of Sabah population information, payment record book, two cellular phones, a Samsung Tab, 12 receipts, a pen-drive, a wallet containing RM4,907 cash, and an Isuzu D-Max vehicle were seized.
He appealed to members of the public to assist in the investigation of the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code.